Keeping the Old Breeds Alive
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By Lisa Nance
Heritage Hill Poultry Farm is dedicated to disappearing breeds. Dennis Reynolds, owner of Her- the details of every single thing in their itage Hill Poultry Farm in Spring- anatomy,” Dennis explained. Compared to other chickens, heritage dale, Ark., didn’t know much about heritage breeds until he breeds have long productive lives. “Even though they are slow growers, met a poultry judge who explained the difference between they are steady in their egg production.,” the heritage breeds and the Dennis said. “Even when they get old, they may only lay four or five eggs a week, ones Dennis was raising. After looking into the breeds and dis- but they’ll do it every week and that’s covering how fragile their bloodlines even when they’re 8, 9 or 10 years old.” Dennis raises his chickens naturally. were, Dennis decided to try his hand at “I don’t put lights on them and I try to raising these purebred chickens. “The reason I got into heritage chickens let them out, free-range, every chance I itage chickens or a raccoon has gotten in is I found out about the Livestock Conser- can to eat bugs. In the summer, I let them and killed them, or they’ve just gotten out set their own eggs and of having chickens; that’s how a bloodline vancy and I started looking raise their own babies. The disappears,” he said. “There are instances at the critically endangered hen-raised chicks are very where someone dies and the chickens go breeds,” he said. “I was healthy,” he said. to the nearest sale or they’re eaten.” amazed at the breeds that In addition, he feeds his One of the ways Dennis believes he were on their list.” birds a mix of feed, some- can help save the heritage breeds is by Today, with more than times adding sunflower getting more youth involved. a dozen heritage breeds seeds for their high pro“The youth are very, very important,” of his own, Dennis works tein content. he said. “I give free roosters to 4-Hers. I with the Conservancy, Every spring, he cleans try to pick out some of the best chickens whose goal as a nonprofit out all the pens, spraying I’ve got for them, so they’ll win. If the organization is to promote or powdering for bugs, as kids win, they’re going to be hooked.” and preserve all heritage well as doing the same But, it’s what happens when the kids grow breeds of livestock. “My to the chickens, along up that interests Dennis. goals are to keep the old with worming them. As “What happens to those kids is that they chicken breeds pure and Photos by Lisa Nance a member of the National quit doing it when they’re teenagers, but together as long as I can, try to educate people, and try to keep Poultry Improvement Program, all birds when they’re in their 30s and 40s, they are blood-tested each year. come back to it,” he said. the youth involved.” “Their biggest enemies are predators; Ironically, some breeders have found anDennis’ experience with chicken and raccoons, opossums,” he said. “Every- other way to preserve the breed – eating poultry goes back years. them. With the advent of the “slow food “I’ve been doing this since the 1970s,” he thing likes to eat chicken.” To keep the predators from getting in movement,” which advocates preservexplained. “I’ve had every breed of poultry you can have – chickens, geese, ducks, wild under pens doors, he’s added an extra ing culinary heritage, the slow-growing heritage breeds are marketed as ducks, peacocks, ornamental pheasants, pi- ledge that keeps the doors tightly shut. being more flavorful and are geons, doves. I have two emu now.” But, Dennis’ biggest con- Springdale, Ark. commanding premium prices. Heritage chickens are birds that meet Heritage breeds can be hard the American Poultry Society’s standard cern is how easy it is for a breed or bloodline to get to find. of perfection requirements. “True heritage birds means no “They have to breed on their own and completely lost. “You’ll hear about someone modern breeding to them,” Denbe true to what the original breed looks nis explained. like. There’s no disqualifications. It’s in whose dog has killed their herMARCH 23, 2020
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At one time he had more than 300 birds and has shipped hatching eggs as far as Puerto Rico and Alaska. “Even though I have this itty-bitty farm, I’ve shipped thousands of eggs,” he said. In addition to selling hatching eggs throughout the year, Dennis sells starting birds every summer. As a long-time breeder, he can also find any breed a purchaser may want. He also suggests finding heritage breeds at poultry shows or by checking the breeder’s list of the American Poultry Society or the National Poultry Improvement program. Dennis will be the first to admit raising and selling heritage chickens is more of a passion than a business. “Even though I’ve had these chickens all these years I still learn stuff about chickens. It’s an amazing hobby.”
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